Are Seniors Able to Get Bunion Surgery?

Posted on Nov 11, 2017 11:45am PST

Foot bunions are deformities that are characterized by the protrusion of
a bony bump at the base of the big toe. Sometimes, bunions can be painful,
especially if they’re large enough to rub against the shoe. There’s
no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery. Seniors
can visit a podiatrist serving the Sugar Land area to find out if the
procedure might be right for them.

If the deformity isn’t severe, doesn’t interfere with day-to-day
activities, and is manageable with conservative treatments, then surgery
isn’t necessary. If surgery could be beneficial, then the podiatrist
will consider whether a senior is generally healthy enough to tolerate
it. Seniors in particular may be at an increased risk of blood clots,
adverse reactions to the anesthesia, poor healing, and an unfavorable
outcome. Adding to the complexity of this decision is the fact that many
seniors have underlying medical conditions, and they may take multiple
medications. These factors don’t automatically disqualify them for
surgery, but they can increase the risks.